Crown Holdings Reports First Quarter 2009 Results

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

PHILADELPHIA, April 15, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009.

First Quarter Highlights

    --  Gross profit improves to 14.5% from 13.5% of net sales
    --  Segment income rose 4.0% to $156 million and to 9.3% of net sales from
        8.1%

    --  Diluted earnings per share improved to $0.25 from $0.17

Net sales in the first quarter were $1,684 million compared to $1,863 million in the first quarter of 2008. The decrease was primarily due to $189 million from foreign currency translation. Approximately 71% of net sales were generated outside the U.S. in the first quarter compared to 74% in the same period last year.

First quarter gross profit was $245 million compared to $252 million in the 2008 first quarter. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit improved to 14.5% in the first quarter from 13.5% in the first quarter last year. Global beverage can unit volume growth, cost containment initiatives, increased operating efficiencies and product mix partially offset a $29 million increase in pension expense and $29 million of unfavorable foreign currency translation.

Selling and administrative expense in the first quarter was $89 million compared to $102 million in last year's first quarter reflecting a $10 million benefit from foreign currency translation.

Segment income (a non-GAAP measure defined by the Company as gross profit less selling and administrative expense) improved to $156 million in the first quarter over the $150 million in the 2008 first quarter. Foreign currency translation decreased segment income by $19 million in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period last year. Segment income as a percentage of net sales expanded to 9.3% in the first quarter of 2009 over 8.1% in the first quarter of 2008.

Commenting on the quarter, John W. Conway, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are very pleased with the results of what is our seasonally smallest quarter. Overall, our businesses and demand for our products held up well and importantly, the quality of earnings was excellent. We were able to recover appropriate price increases for steel tinplate used in food and aerosol cans, improve operating efficiencies, expand margin to net sales and increase segment income. Undoubtedly, the economic environment will make 2009 challenging. However, Crown remains positioned to benefit from its geographically diverse portfolio of metal packaging businesses around the world including the still growing regions of South America, North Africa, the Middle East, China, and Southeast Asia."

Interest expense in the first quarter was $61 million compared to $77 million in the first quarter of 2008. The decrease reflects the impact of lower average borrowing rates, lower average net debt outstanding and foreign currency translation of $5 million.

During the first quarter of 2009, the Company recorded a net charge of $5 million ($0.03 per diluted share) related to the closure of its non-consolidated PET plastic bottle joint-venture in Brazil. The charge is reflected in equity earnings. Included within net income in the 2008 first quarter, the Company recorded a net charge of $2 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, for the loss on early extinguishments of debt.

Net income attributable to Crown Holdings in the first quarter was $40 million, a 48% increase over the $27 million in the first quarter of 2008. Earnings per diluted share in the first quarter grew 47% to $0.25 compared to $0.17 in the 2008 first quarter.

Net debt (a non-GAAP measure defined by the Company as total debt less cash) was $435 million lower at March 31, 2009 than at March 31, 2008, primarily the result of $329 million in free cash flow generated in the twelve months ended March 31, 2009 and foreign currency translation of $144 million. Currency translation reduced net debt by $33 million from December 31, 2008.

Debt and cash amounts were:


                    March 31,   December 31,  March 31,    December 31,
                      2009         2008         2008          2007
                      ----         ----         ----          ----
    Total debt      $3,398       $3,337       $3,819        $3,437
    Cash               296          596          282           457
                       ---          ---          ---           ---
    Net debt        $3,102       $2,741       $3,537        $2,980
                    ======       ======       ======        ======
    Receivables
     securitization   $204         $234         $231          $272
                    ======       ======       ======        ======

During the first quarter of 2009, the Company adopted SFAS 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements," and the financial statements included herein present noncontrolling interests (formerly called "minority interests") in accordance with SFAS 160.

Non-GAAP Measures

Segment income, free cash flow and net debt are not defined terms under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP measures). Non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, cash flow or total debt data prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to calculations of similarly titled measures by other companies.

The Company views segment income and free cash flow as the principal measures of performance of its operations and for the allocation of resources. The Company believes net debt is a useful measure of the Company's debt levels. Segment income, free cash flow and net debt are derived from the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations and Cash Flows and Consolidated Balance Sheets, respectively, and reconciliations to segment income, free cash flow and net debt can be found within this release.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call tomorrow, April 16, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) to discuss this news release. Forward-looking and other material information may be discussed on the conference call. The dial-in numbers for the conference call are (415) 228-5024 or toll-free (888) 810-6802 and the access password is "packaging." A live webcast of the call will be made available to the public on the internet at the Company's web site, www.crowncork.com. A replay of the conference call will be available for a one-week period ending at midnight on April 23. The telephone numbers for the replay are (203) 369-0145 or toll free (866) 359-3724 and the access passcode is 2391.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, all other information in this press release consists of forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the Company's ability to increase net sales in subsequent quarters, the Company's ability to benefit from its geographically diverse portfolio and the Company's ability to continue to grow its business in regions of South America, North Africa, the Middle East, China and Southeast Asia, that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause the statements made in this press release or the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ are discussed under the caption "Forward Looking Statements" in the Company's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2008 and in subsequent filings made prior to or after the date hereof. The Company does not intend to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement in light of future events.

Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies around the world. World headquarters are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


    For more information, contact:
    Timothy J. Donahue, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer,
    (215) 698-5088, or
    Edward Bisno, Bisno Communications, (212) 717-7578.

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations, Statements of Cash Flows, Balance Sheets and Segment Information follow this page.


                   Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
                    (in millions, except share and per share data)

                                               Three Months Ended March 31,
                                               ---------------------------
                                                    2009          2008
                                                    ----          ----
    Net sales                                     $1,684        $1,863
                                                  ------        ------
    Cost of products sold                          1,392         1,558
    Depreciation and amortization                     47            53
                                                      --            --
    Gross profit(1)                                  245           252
    Selling and administrative expense                89           102
    Provision for restructuring                        1
    Loss from early extinguishments of debt                          2
    Interest expense                                  61            77
    Interest income                                   (2)           (3)
    Translation and foreign exchange
     adjustments                                       4
                                                       -            --
    Income before income taxes                        92            74
    Provision for income taxes                        24            26
    Equity (loss)/earnings in affiliates              (5)
                                                     ---            --
    Net income                                        63            48
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling
     interests                                       (23)          (21)
                                                    ----          ----
    Net income attributable to Crown Holdings        $40           $27
                                                     ===           ===
    Earnings per share attributable to Crown
     Holdings
         common shareholders:
         Basic                                     $0.25         $0.17
                                                   =====         =====
         Diluted                                   $0.25         $0.17
                                                   =====         =====

    Weighted average common shares
     outstanding:
       Basic                                 158,491,731   159,187,316
       Diluted                               160,753,399   162,371,169
    Actual common shares outstanding         159,969,143   160,280,546

    (1) A reconciliation from gross profit to segment income is found on the
    following page.



    Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding for 2008 have been
    retrospectively adjusted in compliance with FASB Staff Position (FSP) No.
    EITF 03-6-1, "Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based
    Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities" and certain 2008
    expenses have been reclassified for comparative purposes.



                Consolidated Supplemental Financial Data (Unaudited)
                                   (in millions)

    Reconciliation from Gross Profit to Segment Income

    The Company views segment income, as defined below, as a principal
    measure of performance of its operations and for the allocation of
    resources.  Segment income is defined by the Company as gross profit
    less selling and administrative expense.  A reconciliation from gross
    profit to segment income for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and
    2008 follows:



                                           Three Months Ended
                                                March 31,
                                                ---------
                                              2009     2008
                                              ----     ----
    Gross profit                              $245     $252
    Selling and administrative expense          89      102
    Segment income                            $156     $150



                               Segment Information
                               -------------------

                                       Three Months Ended March 31,
                                       ---------------------------
    Net Sales                                 2009     2008
    ---------                                 ----     ----
    Americas Beverage                         $409     $433
    North America Food                         197      185
    European Beverage                          339      348
    European Food                              389      488
    European Specialty Packaging                81      105
                                                --      ---
         Total reportable segments           1,415    1,559
    Non-reportable segments                    269      304
           Total net sales                  $1,684   $1,863

    Segment Income
    --------------
    Americas Beverage                          $41      $43
    North America Food                          18       11
    European Beverage                           57       49
    European Food                               52       40
    European Specialty Packaging                 1        1
                                               ---      ---
         Total reportable segments             169      144
    Non-reportable segments                     42       40
    Corporate and other unallocated items      (55)     (34)
           Total segment income               $156     $150



                      Consolidated Balance Sheets (Condensed & Unaudited)
                                         (in millions)

    March 31,                                         2009          2008
    Assets
    Current assets
      Cash and cash equivalents                       $296          $282
      Receivables, net                                 814           937
      Inventories                                    1,154         1,220
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets        167           115
         Total current assets                        2,431         2,554

    Goodwill                                         1,904         2,264
    Property, plant and equipment, net               1,421         1,621
    Other non-current assets                           845           961
         Total                                      $6,601        $7,400

    Liabilities and equity
    Current liabilities
      Short-term debt                                  $52           $61
      Current maturities of long-term debt              28            32
      Accounts payable and accrued liabilities       1,725         1,909
         Total current liabilities                   1,805         2,002

    Long-term debt, excluding current maturities     3,318         3,726
    Other non-current liabilities                    1,398         1,255

    Noncontrolling interests                           354           349
    Crown Holdings shareholders' (deficit)/equity     (274)           68
    Total equity                                        80           417
         Total                                      $6,601        $7,400



            Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Condensed & Unaudited)
            ------------------------------------------------------------
                                   (in millions)

    Three months ended March 31,                         2009     2008
                                                         ----     ----
    Cash flows from operating activities
         Net income                                       $63      $48
         Depreciation and amortization                     47       53
         Other, net                                      (455)    (544)
                                                          ---      ---
            Net cash used for operating activities(A)    (345)    (443)
                                                          ---      ---
    Cash flows from investing activities
         Capital expenditures                             (50)     (33)
         Other, net                                                 (7)
                                                          ---      ---

            Net cash used for investing activities        (50)     (40)
                                                          ---      ---
    Cash flows from financing activities
         Net change in debt                               112      283
         Other, net                                         2        9
                                                          ---      ---

            Net cash provided by financing activities     114      292
                                                          ---      ---
    Effect of exchange rate changes
     on cash and cash equivalents                         (19)      16
                                                          ---      ---
    Net change in cash and cash equivalents              (300)    (175)
    Cash and cash equivalents at January 1                596      457
                                                          ---      ---

    Cash and cash equivalents at March 31                $296     $282
                                                          ===      ===


    (A) Free cash flow is defined by the Company as net cash used for
    operating activities less capital expenditures.  A reconciliation from
    net cash used for operating activities to free cash flow for the three
    months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 follows:

    Three months ended March 31,                2009      2008
                                                ----      ----
    Net cash used for operating activities     ($345)    ($443)
    Capital expenditures                         (50)      (33)
                                                ----      ----
     Free cash flow                            ($395)    ($476)
                                                ====      ====

SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.